Customer Reviews

Psychotic Friends Nuttwerk

5 star:		(16)
4 star:		(17)
3 star:		(5)
2 star:		(2)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

At one point in my life fishbone was just about all i ever listened to...in the past years that has faded, still loving their old stuff though. I was really disapointed with chim chims, but this brings back the good feeling that all the old fishbone albums give me. The metal is gone, the punk rock is still visible at points which is good. Most of the album is funk and ska...much like truth and soul without sounding like 1988. If you love truth and soul you'll love this album.

Seems like nothing can stop these guys from making great music. First founding guitarist Kendall Jones left (albeit under crazy circumstances). Then, after recording another album (Chim Chim's Badass Revenge) Chris Dowd (keyboard, horns) left to pursure his own music career soon followed by drummer Fish. The remaining founding members Angelo Moore (vocals, horns), Norwood Fisher (Bass), and Walter Kibby (horns, vocals) backed with newcomers Spacey T. (guitars), John McKnight (organ, horns) and John Steward (drums) continued to do what they do best that being putting on the best live show you never heard of. Alot of bands (311, No Doubt, Sublime to name a few) enjoying popularity on MTV right now owe a lot to Fishbone and their Funk/Ska/Reggae mix. Unfortunately, Fishbone has yet to draw the attention that these bands have. No big deal to them cause they just keep on rockin'.

This newest album is by far the easiest to listen to commercially speaking. They seem to have focused the anger found on Chim Chim's... and turned it inward producing more spiritually focused songs. Rest assured, it is still Fishbone at heart with the same wild mix of influences being felt throughout the album. I mean where else but a Fishbone album will you find guest appearances by Gwen Stefani, George Clinton, Flea, Chad Smith, John Frusciante, Rick James and Donnie Osmond? Scary to think of but it works. Reminds me alot of Sly and the Family Stone's music with a twist. This is a great album for newcomers to pick up but you must then proceed to Truth and Soul and The Reality of My Surroundings for Fishbone classics which is why I only give this album 4 stars. Besides, I've only had a day to listen to it, give me some time I'm sure it'll be a classic.

By the way, be sure to see Fishbone live if you ever get a chance. They put on one of the best shows I've been to. It's amazing how much energy and emotion they can fill into a show. Buy this album so they can rock out into the next millenium. FISHBONE!

First off, this album is incredible. Not as extreme as "Chim Chim's BadAss Revenge" which was made solely for hard-core fans, or as overambitious as "Monkey," this album was a perfect, concise mix of funky 'Bone that anyone with a groove can get into. The Temptations remake "Shakey Ground" and the Sly and the Family Stone remake "Everybody is a Star" are supurb...but the rest of the album maintains the same high standards. "One Planet People" is an ultra funky ska-flavored cry for unity. "The Suffering" is a laid back groove perfect for the summer. "It All Kept Starting Over Again" brings back memories of "Truth and Soul" and "Reality"....the list goes on and on. However, upon further investigation, I was saddened to find that Hollywood Records has a vice grip on the band and the album. The weed anthem "I am a Weed Plant" was changed to "Where did you Get Those Pants." Other lyrics were tampered with, and a few songs were dropped all together, including a collaboration with Primus. Angelo Moore was asked why the band let the label do this, and he said they had no choice. Hollywood Records was the only label that would sign them. How sick is that! FISHBONE SOLDIERS UNITE! If you haven't bought this album yet, do so! Make your friends buy it. Keep the Nuttmeg alive!

This album is very reminiscent of Fishbone's classic "Truth and Soul." All the tracks are ear-tickling, thumping party grooves, with tight musicianship all around and great vocals as always by Angelo Moore. Many guests pop in to sing along, most notably on the loving rendition of "Everybody is a Star", but the spotlight remains on Fishbone's unique gifts. Highlights include "Just Allow", a throwback to the group's early 80s sound, and "It All Kept Startin' Over Again," a philosophical blast of Fish-funk which seems to get better with each listen. This music is good for your soul. Mmmm.

Thank God Fishbone is back. It has been a long 4 years waiting for a release that isn't crafted to sell records. This record is a lot more accesible than "Chim Chim's", though not as powerful or political as CCBR. I bought this the day it was released, and I was not disappointed. I was suprised, for none of the hardcore tinging of their previous 2 releases lingers on this album. The loss of drummer Fish is definitely felt. It is a new version of the band, but hey they are one of the most dynamic acts around, which is so refreshing between all the industry engineered pop acts that are coming out these days and pollluting the airwaves. Much more laid back...good start if you've never heard Fishbone. Kicks ... as severely as every Fishbone album, but in a different way. One planet people y'all!

This one took a while to grow on me, but I soon found myself working at the office and doing Walt's "Shaky Ground, Yeah..." under my breath. This is certainly a more mature Fishbone musically, and they show it by dabbling in many different genres...

The album starts with older R&B with a cover of "Shakey Ground", into a sugary pop ballad with "The Suffering", to an upbeat "Where'd you get those Pants" before coming back around to Sly Stone's "Everybody is a Star". The Suffering has particularily nice Lyrics. This is the strongest part of the album, and would be worth it as an EP.

"One Planet People" starts Fishbone going to a more World Music/Reggae sound. "Just Allow" is a more typical early Fishbone song, while "AIDS and Armageddon" has a nice hard blusey feel. "IAKSAOA" is by far the weakest track on the album. Dear God is a strange song but one I love. Norwood should be allowed to write songs more often.

The mixing and sound work on this album is bad even for a Fishbone album, but since when has that made a fishbone album bad?

The old fishbone will never be back, but the new fishbone is pretty good. They will always miss Chris dowd and Kendall Jones. The new members are pretty good. Spacey T seems to be more in the vein of John Bingham than kendall jones. there are plenty of highlights on this album, especially Karma Tsunami. Angelo is in top form here, but the days of Reality of my Surroundings and Give a Monkey a brain seem to be gone. It is not their best album, but it is not their worse either. The reggae influence seems to be stronger than on other albums. Even an O.K. Fishbone is way better than most popular music. it would be wonderful if any of the departed members would come back to Fishbone. But no mattter their future they deserve to have a platinum album sometime in their career. Like Madness, Fishbone is one of the most underrated bands ever. Though nowhere near as good as their last two Columbia albums, it is still a good and innovative album, but ait could use a strong melodic influence ala Everyday Sunshine, Movement in the Light or Unyielding Conditioning. But some cuts come close to evincing the deep soulful funkiness of Lemon meringue. Still a very worthwhile addition to your Fishbone collection and an approachable starting place for the novice.

i've been listening to fishbone since truth and soul came out and every single album is different. i guess that's what draws me to them. as angelo said in their vid "the reality of my surroundings" they're like an amoeba, crawling alone, picking up anything they come across. i mean from the beginning their songs were simple but with each passing album they got more complex. even so they remain a great band, even though more than half the band is gone. i guess the only problem i see with this album is that there is no rockin'. it seemed over produced and too much funk. i mean don't get me wrong, it's a beautiful album, very easy to listen too, but i like the rawer side of the bone. the punk, rockin, crazy side. this album was way too mellow. but if you're into funk or whatever you may have found a gem. as i said, fishbone has evolved so much no one could ever categorize them. They are just FISHBONE. i await their next album reguardless. you never know what surprises they have in store. and everyone's right... never EVER miss an opportunity to see them live. they will rock your world.

What happened dear Fishbone? And can I call you Fishbone? Kendall. John. Fish. Christopher. Where have you gone? What made you do it? Angelo, Norwood, and freakin' Walter are left, and they're here to bring you mid-tempo reggae, a couple covers, and a handful of guests. I listened to this and truly felt sad. Sad that this was Fishbone. No energy. No catchy chorus'. No fun. And a cameo by Donny Osmond. Good lord! I'm sorry dear Fishbone. You left me behind on this one. "What you are. I don't know what."

I have be in love with this band since I first heard them live in 1986 or so. I have always felt that their recorded work somehow trancended music, the performances were more than songs, this was most in evidence on The Reality of My Surroundings and Give a Monkey a Brain... I guess what I want to say is that I like this album, but it is a collection of songs, not something beyond that, so I miss some of the intesity. If you know what I mean, then you'll know what I mean. BTW, I also miss Fish on this record, he is really an amazing drummer to watch. Last time I saw him play with Fishbone, he actually had his drums facing away from the front of the stage, but he was as tight as ever.